Today's 16 First-round Games

March 20, 2008|- Staff reports

East Region

No. 4 Washington State (24-8) vs. No. 13 Winthrop (22-11), 7:20 p.m.: Coach Tony Bennett has transformed Washington State into a Pac-10 power, winning 11 or more conference games for the second consecutive year. That had never been done by the Cougars. The Cougars aren't athletic and rely on teamwork, experience and good shooting. They could have some problems with the Big South champions, who are in the field for the eighth time in 10 years. The Eagles' eight NCAA Tournament appearances all have come in the last 10 years, and they upset Notre Dame in the first round last year.

No. 5 Notre Dame (24-7) vs. No. 12 George Mason (23-10), 9:40 p.m. : The 5-12 matchup usually produces an upset, and George Mason will be a trendy pick after its march to the Final Four in 2006. Two holdovers from that team, G Folarin Campbell and F Will Thomas, anchor those upset hopes. But this Irish team is different than the one that was upset in the first round last year with C Luke Harangody emerging as one of the best in the Big East. It'll come down to tempo. If Notre Dame can speed things up, it should advance.

West Region

No. 3 Xavier (27-6) vs. No. 14 Georgia (17-16), 12:20 p.m.: Can Georgia carry over its miraculous run in the SEC Tournament? The Bulldogs finished last in the SEC East but won four games in four days - including the unprecedented two in one day because of tornado damage at the Georgia Dome - to snag an NCAA bid. The reward for that is a very good but very beatable Xavier team that relies on balance. The Musketeers have four players who have scored 1,000 career points.

No. 6 Purdue (25-8) vs. No. 11 Baylor (21-10), 2:40 p.m.: Purdue relies on talented young players - top scorers E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel are freshmen and third-leading scorer Keaton Grant is a sophomore - so it will be interesting to see how they react to the big stage. Likewise for Baylor, in the field for the first time since 1988. The Bears started 16-3 before slumping.

No. 2 Duke (27-5) vs. No. 15 Belmont (25-8), 7:10 p.m.: Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Belmont's Rick Byrd are among a group of 11 coaches to have spent more than 20 seasons at their current school. That's where the similarities end. Duke is one of America's winningest programs during that time, while Belmont has fit nicely into Division I in the Atlantic Sun. Belmont has never been better than a No. 15 seed in an NCAA Tournament.

No. 8 BYU (27-7) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (24-10), 7:25 p.m.: Texas A&M faded late but a finishing kick in the Big 12 Tournament earned a third consecutive bid, and the first under coach Mark Turgeon. The first-year A&M coach has NCAA experience after leading Wichita State to the Sweet 16 in 2006. He'll look for consistency from forward Joseph Jones. BYU set a school record for regular-season wins and claimed its first back-to-back outright conference crowns since 1979 and '80.

No. 7 West Virginia (24-10) vs. No. 10 Arizona (19-14), 9:30 p.m.: Arizona can prove it deserved that at-large spot by adding to Bob Huggins' recent March misery. Wildcats guard Jerryd Bayless is one of the country's top freshmen. He was the first player in Arizona history to score 30 points in three consecutive games - and he did it in Pac-10 play. West Virginia's Huggins has taken 16 teams to the NCAAs. Only one of them reached the Final Four. He took over a West Virginia team, however, that won the NIT last year.

No. 1 UCLA (31-3) vs. No. 16 Mississippi Valley State (17-15), 9:40 p.m.: Hard to believe, given its storied history of 11 NCAA titles, that this team owns the UCLA mark for victories. The Bruins are struggling with injuries to stars Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute but will coast past Mississippi Valley State. The Delta Devils rebounded from a 2-11 start to win the SWAC automatic bid.

Midwest Region

No. 1 Kansas (31-3) vs. No. 16 Portland State (23-9), 12:25 p.m.: Kansas secured a No. 1 seed by winning the Big 12 Tournament for the third consecutive year but has not been able to break through to the Final Four under coach Bill Self. Portland State enjoyed its best season as a member of Division I but shouldn't even be a speed bump for the Jayhawks.

No. 8 UNLV 26-7) vs. No. 9 Kent State (28-6), 2:45 p.m.: Lon Kruger has led UNLV to its first back-to-back 22-win seasons since Jerry Tarkanian's Final Four teams of 1990-91 and 1991-92. The Rebels are fast and pesky; the lineup averages 6-feet, 4.5-inches with a tallest starter of only 6-7. Kent State will go as far as streaky MAC Player of the Year Al Fisher can take it. The Golden Flashes have won 20 or more games in 10 consecutive years and have their best team since the 2000-01 squad reached the Elite Eight.